By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in appointed the disputed nominee Hong Jong-haak as minister of SMEs and startups, Tuesday.
Opposition parties strongly protested the appointment, saying Moon ignored their opinion that Hong was unqualified for a ministerial post.
The appointment comes a day after the deadline by which Cheong Wa Dae again asked the Assembly to endorse the nomination after it did not meet the first deadline for endorsement, Nov. 13. The President is allowed to appoint a minister without National Assembly approval, according to a related law.
With Hong's appointment, the SMEs and startup minister post has been as filled 195 days after Moon was inaugurated, and 118 days after the new ministry was established.
"Things do not go as planned; I thought the most important thing in the new government's economic policy was fostering small companies and startups; but the minister is appointed now," Moon said after an appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae.
"Opposition parties protested it, but it was urgent to finish organizing the Cabinet. The SMEs and startups ministry has a long way to go. Considering these, I ask the opposition parties to understand."
Moon said Hong has good knowledge about policies on SMEs as he was a member of Moon's economic policy team during the presidential campaign.
But the appointment drew an immediate backlash from the opposition bloc, which accused Hong of ethical lapses such as dubious financial transactions among family members over a building to pay less tax.
Main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Chung Woo-taik called Moon "obstinate."
"The Assembly did not endorse the nomination because Hong lacks expertise in SME policy and is ethically unqualified, with people calling him an expert in reducing real estate tax payment," Chung said.
"It is the Moon government's obstinacy to appoint a nominee the opposition parties and the public do not approve of. Moon's pledge for cooperation with the opposition bloc will remain as a lie in the nation's political history. Moon will be responsible for any political turmoil that may arise from the appointment."
The minor opposition People's Party also said the appointment was the wrong choice and could lose public sentiment.
"It is pitiful and disappointing to finish the government organization with wrong choices," the party's vice spokesman Yang Sun-pil said in a statement. "The appointment is a self-righteous act, ignoring why people criticized Hong and why they were angry."
Yang said the Moon government should be aware that even people who support the government are concerned about its continuing poor personnel management.
President Moon Jae-in appointed the disputed nominee Hong Jong-haak as minister of SMEs and startups, Tuesday.
Opposition parties strongly protested the appointment, saying Moon ignored their opinion that Hong was unqualified for a ministerial post.
The appointment comes a day after the deadline by which Cheong Wa Dae again asked the Assembly to endorse the nomination after it did not meet the first deadline for endorsement, Nov. 13. The President is allowed to appoint a minister without National Assembly approval, according to a related law.
With Hong's appointment, the SMEs and startup minister post has been as filled 195 days after Moon was inaugurated, and 118 days after the new ministry was established.
"Things do not go as planned; I thought the most important thing in the new government's economic policy was fostering small companies and startups; but the minister is appointed now," Moon said after an appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae.
"Opposition parties protested it, but it was urgent to finish organizing the Cabinet. The SMEs and startups ministry has a long way to go. Considering these, I ask the opposition parties to understand."
Moon said Hong has good knowledge about policies on SMEs as he was a member of Moon's economic policy team during the presidential campaign.
But the appointment drew an immediate backlash from the opposition bloc, which accused Hong of ethical lapses such as dubious financial transactions among family members over a building to pay less tax.
Main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Chung Woo-taik called Moon "obstinate."
"The Assembly did not endorse the nomination because Hong lacks expertise in SME policy and is ethically unqualified, with people calling him an expert in reducing real estate tax payment," Chung said.
"It is the Moon government's obstinacy to appoint a nominee the opposition parties and the public do not approve of. Moon's pledge for cooperation with the opposition bloc will remain as a lie in the nation's political history. Moon will be responsible for any political turmoil that may arise from the appointment."
The minor opposition People's Party also said the appointment was the wrong choice and could lose public sentiment.
"It is pitiful and disappointing to finish the government organization with wrong choices," the party's vice spokesman Yang Sun-pil said in a statement. "The appointment is a self-righteous act, ignoring why people criticized Hong and why they were angry."
Yang said the Moon government should be aware that even people who support the government are concerned about its continuing poor personnel management.
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